Abstract: An offshore wind turbine installation vessel includes a crane provided with a computerized crane control system. The computerized crane control system is linked to the slew drive, the luffing drive, and the hoisting winch of the crane, and is programmed to perform a foundation pile installation routine providing a coordinated pattern of slew motion of the superstructure and of luffing motion of the boom structure, as well as operation of the hoisting winch so that the load connector of the crane moves from a foundation pile pick up position thereof, where the load connector is connected to the top end of a horizontally oriented foundation pile stored on a storage deck, to a foundation pile overboarding position thereof, wherein the foundation pile is in vertical suspended from the load connector, outside of the hull.

Abstract: A system comprising a crane and an exchangeable tool. The crane and the tool respectively comprise an upper tool connector with tool retainers and a lower tool connector which can be interconnected, e.g. a male and female connector, e.g. the lower tool connector of the tool being embodied as a shank provided with a shoulder and the upper tool connector as a tool clamp with a female, open-centered body. A tool suspension device comprises the upper tool connector. a travelling block member. The tool clamp has multiple mobile tool retainers adapted to—in a non-operative position—allow introduction of the shank of the tool from below into the shank receiving passage and—in an operative position—engage below the shoulder of the shank that has been introduced into the passage so as to suspend the tool. The upper tool connector may comprise a bearing allowing for swivelling of the open-centered body, and e.g.

Abstract: A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.

Abstract: A tool and method for hoisting an longitudinal end of an offshore wind turbine component which is in a horizontal orientation. The tool is after being attached to a lifting block to be moved into a proximate position in which gripping members of the tool are longitudinally spaced from the longitudinal end but the radial contour of the tool at least overlaps with the radial contour of the longitudinal end. While the gripping members are in a retracted position guiding actuators can move the tool from the proximate position into a gripping position longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal end in which the gripping members are movable to engage said surface of the longitudinal end, thereby connecting the longitudinal end to the tool and suspending the longitudinal end from the lifting block so that the longitudinal end can consequently be hoisted.

Abstract: A pile upending and holding system includes a support assembly configured to be mounted on the vessel and to provide compensation for wave-induced motion of the vessel to maintain a predetermined X-Y location of the pile holder independent of said motion, and a pile holder mounted on the support assembly to be tillable about a substantially horizontal tilt axis. The pile holder includes a lower ring and an upper ring, and a pile holder frame supporting the lower ring and upper ring, the upper ring longitudinally spaced from the lower ring. Each of the rings include pile engaging devices distributed about the circumference thereof, each pile engaging device being adapted to engage an exterior of the pile extending through the lower and upper ring. Each of the lower ring and upper ring includes a ring base fixed to the pile holder frame and one or more movable jaws, movable between a closed position for holding and guiding the pile and an opened position for entry of the pile.

Abstract: A system includes a crane and an exchangeable tool. The crane and the tool respectively, include an upper tool connector with tool retainers and a lower tool connector which can be interconnected, e.g. a male and female connector, e.g. the lower tool connector of the tool being embodied as a shank provided with a shoulder and the upper tool connector as a tool clamp with a female, open-centered body. A tool suspension device includes the upper tool connector and a travelling block member. The tool clamp has multiple mobile tool retainers adapted to—in a non-operative position—allow introduction of the shank of the tool from below into the shank receiving passage and—in an operative position—engage below the shoulder of the shank that has been introduced into the passage so as to suspend the tool. The upper tool connector may include a bearing allowing for swivelling of the open-centered body, and e.g.

Abstract: Providing energy to an energy consuming piece of equipment and/or tool during offshore operations. Use is made of a crane including a substructure, a boom mounted on the substructure, one or more hoist winches and cables, as well as an object suspension device suspended from the boom by the cables. A piece of equipment or tool is suspended from the object suspension device. An energy storage unit is provided on the object suspension device and has an input connector. The boom may be provided with an output connector of an energy charging unit and in a lower supply position of the object suspension device it is disconnected from the input connector of the energy storage unit. The piece of equipment or tool is then run on energy supplied by the energy storage unit.

Abstract: An offshore wind turbine installation vessel includes a crane provided with a computerized crane control system. The computerized crane control system is linked to the slew drive, the luffing drive, and the hoisting winch of the crane, and is programmed to perform a foundation pile installation routine providing a coordinated pattern of slew motion of the superstructure and of luffing motion of the boom structure, as well as operation of the hoisting winch so that the load connector of the crane moves from a foundation pile pick up position thereof, where the load connector is connected to the top end of a horizontally oriented foundation pile stored on a storage deck, to a foundation pile overhoarding position thereof, wherein the foundation pile is in vertical suspended from the load connector, outside of the hull.

Abstract: A wave-induced motion compensating crane includes a hoist assembly. At least two departure sheaves are mounted at opposite lateral sides of the jib. The object suspension device is supported both by two hoist cables extending laterally from the jib and a third hoist cable that runs via another departure sheave. The hoist assembly is adapted to hoist and/or lower the object suspension device with an object connected thereto, between a lower position and a position at a height up to the departure sheaves while the hoist cables together define a reverse pyramid, diverging upwards in between the object suspension device and the departure sheaves.

Abstract: A pile holding system configured to support the pile in an upright position at a pile installation location next to the vessel. The pile holding system includes a pile holder and a pile holder support system. The pile holder support system is configured to be mounted on the deck of the vessel, to moveably support the pile holder, and to move the pile holder in a first direction between an inboard position and an outboard position. The pile holder, when in the outboard position, is located outside the contour of the vessel, for holding the pile in the upright position at the installation location. The pile holder, when in the inboard position with the first and second jaw in the open position, is located within the contour of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine in which the piles are transported horizontally, positioned in a pile holder, rotated to a vertical orientation while being held by the pile holder, and subsequently lowered into the water while being held by the pile holder. The installation vessel is in a floating condition, and the pile holder is compensated for wave-induced motion of the vessel to maintain a predetermined X-Y location independent of the wave-induced motion of the vessel. A pile holding system, a pile holder, and a vessel comprising a pile holding system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A marine pipelaying friction clamp device for frictionally retaining an offshore subsea pipeline to be launched into the sea includes a frame which includes a main frame structure that is adapted to be supported by the pipelaying vessel. The frame supports multiple annular arrays of clamping units adapted to simultaneously engage separate portions of the pipeline. The frame further includes one or more mobile subframes for one or more of said annular arrays of clamping units. Each of said one or more mobile subframes is movably supported by the main frame structure so as to be mobile relative to said main frame structure in said longitudinal direction of the clamp device, and each of said one or more mobile subframes is supported by a spring assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a marine pipelaying friction clamp device for frictionally retaining an offshore pipeline having a longitudinal axis, comprising multiple clamping units (20). Each clamping unit comprises a friction pad (21) and an associated force actuator (22), and further comprises a base (25) fixed to the actuator, wherein the friction pad is rotatably connected to the base via a single axis (H1, H2) hinge mechanism defining a single hinge axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. The single axis hinge mechanism comprises first and second complementary semi-cylindrical hinge surfaces, allowing a rotation of the friction pad about the single hinge axis over 2-20° relative to the base. The friction pad is also axially connected to the base via complementary axial load surfaces (31, 33) on the base (25) and on the friction pad (21).

Abstract: An improved system and method for laying on the seabed a pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser including one or more accessories are disclosed. In the system, a trolley rail for an auxiliary trolley is provided which includes a retractable trolley rail part supported by the tower via an associated mobile rail support assembly. Displacement of the retractable trolley rail part together with the auxiliary trolley when arranged on said retractable trolley rail part with respect to the tower is allowed, between an active position, wherein the auxiliary trolley is positioned to engage on an accessory in the firing line, and a retracted and non-operable position wherein a clear envelope about the firing line is created.

Abstract: In a vessel and method for laying on the seabed a pipeline and one or more accessories which are to be connected to the pipeline, in particular in view of the installation of accessories to the pipeline, the one or more tensioners are displaceable along the pipeline launch tower.

Abstract: An offshore S-lay pipelaying vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, the vessel includes a hull and an elongated stinger having a hull end and a free end, the stinger being adapted to support the pipeline to be laid from the vessel. The stinger includes a stinger frame, possibly composed of one or more rigid stinger frame sections, possibly articulated sections. And, distributed over the length of the stinger, multiple pipeline support assemblies are mounted to the stinger frame that provide support for the pipeline.

Abstract: A tensioner pad assembly is adapted to be mounted on an endless track of a tensioner to frictionally clamp an elongated product supported and moved by the tensioner. The pad assembly includes a carrier member and a pair of gripping members, which gripping members can with their carrier member mating surfaces be mounted in multiple discrete gripping positions on gripping member mating surfaces of the carrier member. The mating surfaces form interlocking structures adapted to transfer a squeeze force from the carrier member to the gripping members. The interlocking structures provided on the carrier member define the multiple discrete gripping positions. The gripping member mating surfaces extend at an angle relative to each other, such that the multiple discrete gripping positions differ in their distance to the base portion as well as in their distance to the imaginary plane of the carrier member.

Abstract: An improved system and method for laying on the seabed a pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser including one or more accessories are disclosed. In the system, a trolley rail for an auxiliary trolley is provided which includes a retractable trolley rail part supported by the tower via an associated mobile rail support assembly. Displacement of the retractable trolley rail part together with the auxiliary trolley when arranged on said retractable trolley rail part with respect to the tower is allowed, between an active position, wherein the auxiliary trolley is positioned to engage on an accessory in the firing line, and a retracted and non-operable position wherein a clear envelope about the firing line is created.

Abstract: A marine pipeline installation vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the reel lay method, wherein the vessel includes at least a first and a second storage reel for storage of the pipeline to be laid, which storage reels are positioned in or onto the vessel; a pipeline launch tower mounted to the vessel, which pipeline launch tower is adapted to launch the pipeline in a firing line along the tower; a pipeline guide which is mounted at an elevated position to the pipeline launch tower, which pipeline guide has a pipeline guide surface member providing an essentially circular or semi-circular pipeline guide surface, which pipeline guide is adapted to—in a primary pipelaying position thereof relative to the tower—guide a pipeline from a first storage reel over the pipeline guide into the firing line, the pipeline contacts the pipeline guide surface at a first contact point fore of the firing line and departs the surface at a first departure point into the firi

Abstract: A marine pipelaying system and method for lowering and/or raising an offshore pipeline and including one or more accessories thereto, includes a pipeline launch device, a pipeline clamp, an accessory connecting device and a controlled load hoisting device. An accessory handling device is provided including an accessory transport track and a cart adapted to engage and support one of the one or more accessories, such that the accessory handling device is adapted to engage said accessory at the engagement position, position the accessory in the pipeline connecting position in the firing line above the pipeline clamp. The accessory can be connected to the pipeline and support and allow displacement of the accessory between the engagement position and the pipeline connection position.